Post History

American Legion Northampton Post No. 56 is one of the oldest American Legion Posts in the Nation.

Application for Post of American Legion

Northampton Post 56 submitted its "Application for Post of American Legion" on the 23rd day of September 1919, listing the names of 17 members. 

A committee was then formed to draw up the Post's Constitution and By-Laws.

In a meeting held at the Casino in Cape Charles on 19 January 1920, members of the newly formed post elected their first officers and unanimously approved the Constitution and By-Laws.  This was well documented in an article published on page 3 of the Eastern Shore Herald 24 January 1920.

One of Post 56’s first missions was to facilitate the presentation of “French Diplomas” or “Honor Certificates.  This was announced in article published in the Accomack News, page 6, 13 February 1920.   Relatives of any Northampton soldier, sailor, marine, member of the nurses corps or yeomanette who lost their life in the service of the country from April 6th, 1917 to November 11th, 1918 were urged to send in their names to Post Adjutant, Mr. V. C. Taylor.

Presentation of the certificates was scheduled for 22 February 1920 as documented in an advertisement in the Eastern Shore Herald, page 2, 14 February 1920.

An article published on page 16 of the "Virginian-Pilot AND THE NORFOLK LANDMARK", 16 April 1920, announced the formation of the post and identified the post officers (D. W. Peters, Commander).  It also noted that there were about 100 members.

Possibly the first Resolution adopted by members of the newly formed post was to endorse the construction of the Northampton-Accomack Memorial Hospital.  Here is the text of the resolution as reported in the Eastern Shore Herald, page 3, 4 September 1920.

Cape Charles, Virginia. August 31, 1920.

Mr. John A. Kern, Campaign Secretary,
The Northampton-Accomack Memorial Hospital, Nassawadox, Virginia.

Dear Sir—At a called meeting of Northampton Post No. 56, American legion, held at Post Headquarters, Cape Charles, Virginia, on the evening of August 30th, 1920, the following resolution was offered and unanimously adopted:

Resolved that Northampton Post No. 56, of the American Legion, Cape Charles, Virginia favors enthusiastically the proposed Northampton-Accomack Memorial Hospital to be erected at Nassawadox, Virginia, because it is such a fitting memorial to the boys of the Eastern Shore of Virginia who so gallantly served in the recent World War, and because it will be of great service to humanity at home during the present as well as future generations

Resolved, further That Northampton Post No. 66, of the American Legion Cape Charles, Virginia, Pledges its fullest co-operation to the Northampton-Accomack Memorial Hospital both collectively and individually.

Very truly yours. Davis W. Peters, Post Commander
Vernon C. Taylor, Post Adjutant

In an article in the Eastern Shore Herald, page 5, 2 October 1920, it was announced by the Post 56 Adjutant / Secretary that all Honorably Discharged veterans who served during WW1 were eligible to apply for the WW1 Victory Medal.  Medals were to be presented at a ceremony on Armistice Day.

The following are the names of those who were presented with Victory Medals.  This is not the complete list of those in Northampton County eligible to receive the Victory Medal. A number of veterans and members of the American Legion experienced delay in getting their applications through and their medals in time for the celebration.

Military Honors at Funerals

Starting in the fall of 1920, Post 56 provided Full Military Honors at the burials of our war heros.  In October 1920, the body of 24 Year old Corporal Fed Etz was the first of the Cape Charles boys to be returned.  Post 56 provided Funeral Honors for many other soldiers including  Private W. Hastings, Private First Class Barnard Tankard Moore, Corporal Clarence D Wilkins, Private Oscar Watson, and Corporal Byron C Cugler. 

Firing Squad and Color Guard

By April of 1921, the post, having acquired rifles and ammunition, formed a Firing Squad consisting of 10 post members.

Peninsula Enterprise, Page 2, 2 April 1921

Reading from left to right, front row

Hugh S. Roberts, former Corporal, Hq. Co., 116 th Inf., 29th Div.
Thomas J. Milligan, Jr., former Private, Sec. A. T. C.
Frank M. Floyd, former Private, Co. “H”, 4th Va. Inf.
Judson R. Guy, former Wagoner, Supply Co., 116 th Inf., 29th Div.
Frank W. Tappan, former Bugler, Battery “F”, 315 th F. A., 80th Div.

Standing, left to right

Julius T. Ames, former Ist Lieut., Convalescent Center, Camp Bowie, Texas
Isaac G. Redd, former Private, Casual Co.
E. Bruce Powell, former Private, Co. “H”, 4th Va. Inf.
N. Evans Bell, former Private, Co. “A”, 321st Inf., 81st Div
Theodore P. Mullen, former Sergeant, Co. “H”, 115th Inf., 29th Div.

Ex-Lieut. Ames is in charge of the Firing Squad.

By 1945, Post 56 had formed a Color Guard.  There are a number of newspaper references to Northampton Post 56 participating in parades on the Eastern Shore.  The photo below was provided Courtesy of Bill Neville and the Cape Charles Museum and Historical Society.

Northampton Post No. 56 Charter

Post 56 received its charter on the 23rd day of February 1922.

On 20 April 1924, The Richmond Times Dispatch, page 26 reported under the Headline "State Legion Notes" that Northampton Post No. 56 had achived 100% of its membership goal: 43 Members.

Post 56 Members become Commander of Department of Virginia

Notably, two of our members went on to become Commander of The American Legion Department of Virginia.

Myron Bristow   James Chapman 

The first was Commander Byron E. Bristow, a veteran of both The Spanish American War and WW1.  His election as Department of Virginia Commander was reported in the Eastern Shore Herald, page 1, 20 August 1932.

The second was James Chapman.  Commander Chapman served as commander of Northampton Post No. 56 from 1998 to 2000 and as Department of Virginia Commander from 2015 – 2016.

First Post Home

The original post was located in Cape Charles, Virginia.  Early meetings were typically held in the Cape Charles Casino and later in the Farmers and Merchants Bank (now the Cape Charles Public Library).  It is believed that the Pennsylvania Railroad provided their club house on Mason Avenue to the American Legion around 1934.  Commonly referred to as the "Post Home", "American Legion Hall" and even "American Legion Ballroom", it was widely used by the community.  High School Dances and even a Play were not uncommon.  In 1942, the USO established a canteen in the building. 

Sadly, the post burned down in the fall of 1964 destroying all post history, military memorabilia and artifacts.

Post 56 languished for years until 2006 when a handful of veterans acquired the Cheriton Super Market and set about a years long renovation culminating in the installation of the Post Flagpole.

Cape Charles Veterans War Memorial

There were two.  We don’t yet know when the original War Veterans Memorial was erected on Mason Avenue.  However, an article published on page 8 of the The Daily Times, Salisbury, Md, 30 May 1969 sheds some light on its history.  It was completly refurbished by Post 56 with lots of help and labor from the Airmen of Cape Charles Air Force Base.  It was ultimately replaced by the current memorial in 1987.  We have yet to find pictures of the original monument.  However, in 2022 while going through our storage we came upon what could well be the original board.

Shelby Combs, a member of our Sons of the American Legion Squadron 56, did a beautiful job refurbishing it.  It now hangs prominently in our Social Quarters.

Before

.

After

In 1987, The post commissioned Philip A Shaw & Associates to plan a replacement monument.  In July 1988, at a Post 56 meeting held in the Municipal Building Council Chambers, members voted to remove and replace the Cape Charles Veterans Monument. The existing monument contained 116 names; 38 from WWI, 64 from WWII, 10 from Korea, and 4 from Vietnam.  Minutes of the Post 56 meeting held on 21 Sep 1989 indicate that the current monument was still under construction.

Each year, without fail, Post 56 conducts its annual ceremonies, here at the Veterans War Memorial on Memorial Day, Patriots Day, and Veterans Day.

BOYS STATE

Adopted at the 1938 Department of Virginia Convention, $1,000 was appropriated to operate at Virginia Tech, for a week next summer [1939] a legion “Old Dominion Boys’ State” designed to teach high school boys the governmental system and democratic ideals of this country.

Legion posts will select high school juniors to attend the “state”. They will elect a “legislature”, establish “courts” and otherwise carry on the operation of government” modeled on national scale.

Newspaper evidence from 1939, 1940, and 1946 demonstrate that Post 56 placed emphasis on The American Legion's “Americanism” program.

Still true today, Northampton Post 56 identifies and sends high school juniors to the Virginia Boys State during the summer before their senior year.

2016 BOYS STATE - Far Left:  Bill Stramm, Counselor / Far Right: JC Carstens, Counselor

Affiliated Organizations

American Legion Auxiliary Unit 56 was formed on 7 June 2008. But that's not the actual beginning ...

Excerpt from “History of The American Legion Department of Virginia 1919 – 1924", published by The William Byrd Press, Inc., Richmond, VA August 1st, 1924

During the spring of 1922 the Legion began to feel the need of help, as all bachelors do sooner or later. After considerable courting, a number of ladies agreed to “take a chance,” and chartered the Ladies’ Auxiliary to the Legion on December 17th with an enrollment of twenty five members. The ladies were supported in this enterprise by Dr. Kate Waller Barrett. The officers at the time of organization were: Mrs. J. T. Daniel, president; Mrs. J. R. McAllister, vice-president; Miss Myrtice Gardner, treasurer; Mrs. F. M. Floyd, secretary.

The present officers [ 1924 ] are: Mrs. J. S. McMath, president; Mrs. J. T. Daniel, vice-president; Mrs. Francis Thomas, treasurer; Mrs. Lee Vincent, secretary. The Auxiliary has been a source of inspiration since its initiation, it has never fallen down on the job or failed us in time of need. It is impossible to praise our ladies too highly for their services and co-operation.

A Sons of the American Legion Squadron 56 was formed on 25 November 2007.

Post 56 has every reason to be proud of its Auxiliary and Sons of the American Legion organizations.  Together, their support is crucial to every program and activity of the post. 

We are truly an "American Legion Family".

Patriotic Days

MEMORIAL DAY has always been an outstanding occasion in this community. Post 56 conducts a Memorial Day ceremony every year on Memorial Day at the Cape Charles War Veterans Memorial.  In addition to memorial events throughout the Northampton community, the  goal of every Veteran to it's last man is to keep MEMORIAL DAY sacred to the memory of our war dead of all of the wars of the country.

ARMISTICE DAY, now called VETERANS' DAY, originally marked the end of fighting in World War I. It is an important holiday on the calendar of Legionnaires everywhere and in the hearts of all Veterans. Post 56 conducts a Veterans Day ceremony every year on Veterans Day at the Cape Charles War Veterans Memorial.  The ceremony starts at 11 o'clock on the morning of November 11th, marking the exact hour of the cessation of hostility on the war fronts.

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